Cricket

Paige Scholfield's scintillating unbeaten 73 propelled South East Stars to a commanding five-wicket victory over Lancashire Thunder in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. The South African all-rounder's career-best T20 knock, studded with 12 fours and a six, guided the hosts to a comfortable chase of 140 with four overs to spare.Thunder's innings got off to a blistering start thanks to Fi Morris' belligerent 41, which included eight boundaries. However, the visitors lost their way after Morris' dismissal, with Tash Farrant's economical spell of 2 for 17 proving pivotal. Emma Lamb's 36 and Georgie Smale's 37 were the only other notable contributions for Thunder.Stars' chase began with a setback as Bryony Smith was caught behind off Tara Norris. Sophia Dunkley and Farrant also departed cheaply, leaving the hosts in a spot of bother at 25 for 3. But Scholfield and Alice Davidson-Richards steadied the ship with a crucial 67-run partnership.Davidson-Richards, who struck a six and three fours, fell for 32, but Scholfield continued to dominate. She found an able ally in Aylish Cranstone, who contributed 24, as the pair added 48 for the fourth wicket.Scholfield reached her half-century in just 32 balls and accelerated thereafter. She smashed a six and two fours off Liberty Heap to bring up the winning runs and seal a comprehensive victory for Stars.

In a thrilling encounter at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol, South East Stars emerged victorious over Western Storm by a narrow four-run margin in their Charlotte Edwards Cup opener.Chasing a modest target of 133, Storm's hopes were dashed in the final over by the brilliance of Tash Farrant. The former England allrounder conceded just two runs from the final two deliveries, including the crucial wicket of Alex Griffiths, to secure the win for Stars.Earlier, Amanda-Jade Wellington had starred for Storm with a superb bowling performance, claiming 3 for 22 from four overs. Her efforts, coupled with a catch and a run-out, restricted Stars to 132 for 9. Aylish Cranstone top-scored for the visitors with a gritty 31, but a middle-overs collapse saw them lose five wickets in quick succession.Storm's reply got off to a solid start thanks to Emma Corney's 37-ball 40. Niamh Holland contributed 32, but the chase faltered in the final over as Griffiths and Sophie Luff were dismissed in quick succession.Stars skipper Bryony Smith had set the tone for her team with an aggressive start, but her dismissal for 16 triggered a collapse. Paige Scholfield and Sophia Dunkley provided some resistance, but Wellington's three wickets in 14 balls put Storm firmly in control.However, Cranstone's spirited 31 kept Stars in the game, and Farrant's heroics in the final over ultimately proved decisive.

In a thrilling encounter at Beckenham, Northern Diamonds emerged victorious over South East Stars by a narrow margin of three runs in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Despite a valiant century from Sophia Dunkley, the Stars fell agonizingly short of what would have been a record-breaking run chase.The Diamonds, batting first, posted a formidable total of 311 for 9. Hollie Armitage (66), Bess Heath (63), and Sterre Kalis (52) all contributed significant half-centuries. However, a devastating spell from Phoebe Franklin, who claimed three wickets for three runs in six balls, restricted the Diamonds' progress.In response, the Stars got off to a shaky start, losing Tash Farrant early. Dunkley, who had been omitted from England's squad to face Pakistan, showcased her class with a magnificent 130 from 136 deliveries. She formed a crucial partnership with Bryony Smith (52), but the Stars' hopes were dashed in the final over.With just four balls remaining, Dunkley was inexplicably run out by Erin Burns after failing to ground her bat. Bethan Miles was unable to hit a boundary off the last delivery, leaving the Stars three runs short of their target.The Diamonds' victory was a testament to their resilience and depth. Armitage, Heath, and Kalis provided a solid foundation with their half-centuries, while Jess Woolston's unbeaten 23 helped push the total past 300.For the Stars, Dunkley's century was a standout performance, but it was ultimately not enough to secure victory. Phoebe Franklin's three-wicket haul and Aylish Cranstone's 41 were also notable contributions.The match was a thrilling spectacle that showcased the high quality of women's cricket in England. The Diamonds' victory keeps them in contention for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title, while the Stars will be determined to bounce back in their remaining matches.

South East Stars emerged victorious in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash against Sunrisers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, securing a commanding five-wicket victory at Northampton.Despite being omitted from the England squad for the upcoming Pakistan series, Sophia Dunkley responded with a scintillating 67 off 89 deliveries, anchoring the Stars' chase of 223. Brilliantly supported by Alice Davidson-Richards' destructive 50, the pair forged a formidable 105-run partnership for the second wicket.Skipper Bryony Smith laid the foundation with a 53-run opening stand alongside Tash Farrant, setting the tone for the Stars' pursuit. Dunkley, known for her aggressive style, showcased her versatility with exquisite timing and placement, keeping the scoreboard ticking.Sunrisers, who had won the toss and elected to bat, failed to capitalize on their advantage. Alexa Stonehouse, Davidson-Richards, and Kalea Moore each claimed two wickets, restricting Sunrisers to 222 for nine. Flo Miller top-scored with 30, but several batters made promising starts before succumbing to soft dismissals.In the Stars' innings, Smith played an aggressive hand, driving boundaries with ease. Farrant contributed 20 as an opener before being dismissed by Jodi Grewcock. Smith's departure brought Dunkley to the crease, who looked in fine touch from the outset.Davidson-Richards joined Dunkley in a destructive partnership, smashing boundaries and bringing up Stars' 100. However, she fell for 50, edging behind to Amara Carr. Phoebe Franklin stepped up to the plate, hitting boundaries and remaining calm under pressure.Despite Dunkley's dismissal with Stars on 205 for four, Franklin remained composed and guided her team to victory with 13 balls to spare.

Western Storm's remarkable batting performance propelled them to an unlikely victory over South East Stars in a thrilling Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy encounter. Despite facing a daunting target of 299 in a rain-shortened contest, Storm reached 236-5 before the weather intervened, securing an eight-run triumph via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method.Sophie Luff and Fran Wilson played pivotal roles for Storm, anchoring the chase with assured half-centuries. Luff's 59 off 73 balls and Wilson's 65 off 52 balls formed the backbone of a 131-run partnership that put Storm firmly in contention. Nat Wraith's unbeaten 40 further boosted their hopes.Earlier, South East Stars had set a formidable total of 298-5, thanks to Paige Scholfield's 74, Alice Davidson-Richards' 65, and Aylish Cranstone's unbeaten 63. The trio's aggressive batting put Storm under pressure, but the home side's bowlers fought back to restrict the visitors in the latter stages.Storm's victory marks their first over Stars this season and their second consecutive win. They now have an opportunity to challenge for the title when they host Southern Vipers on Saturday.

In a thrilling encounter at Beckenham, the South East Stars emerged victorious over Central Sparks by a commanding 71-run margin (D/L method) in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Ryana MacDonald-Gay continued her impressive start to the season, claiming 4 for 18 to dismantle the Sparks' batting lineup. The Maidstone-born seamer has now amassed 12 wickets in just three matches, showcasing her lethal bowling prowess.Paige Scholfield and Tash Farrant laid the foundation for the Stars' victory with solid half-centuries. Scholfield contributed 65 runs, while Farrant, captaining the side in Bryony Smith's absence, scored 54.However, Hannah Baker of the Sparks staged a remarkable comeback, claiming five wickets in four balls to finish with career-best figures of 5 for 45. The Stars faltered from a promising position of 230 for 3 to 268 all out, but their total proved insurmountable for the Sparks.The Sparks' chase never gained momentum, as they lost four wickets for two runs, leaving them reeling at 56 for 2. MacDonald-Gay's double-wicket-maiden in the 18th over further crippled their hopes.Eve Jones and Chloe Brewer provided some resistance with a 35-run opening partnership, but the Sparks' batting collapsed after Brewer's dismissal. MacDonald-Gay's brilliance continued as she dismissed Davina Perrin, Eve Jones, and Abi Freeborn in quick succession.Despite a valiant effort from Issy Wong and Grace Ellis, who put together a 61-run partnership, the Sparks were unable to recover from their early setbacks. With 20 overs remaining, rain forced the players off the field, and with no realistic prospect of a resumption, play was abandoned.Wong remained unbeaten on 34, while Ellis was 18 not out, but the Stars' 71-run victory was well-deserved.

South East Stars continued their winning streak in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy, crushing The Blaze by eight wickets in Leicester. England's Ryana MacDonald-Gay starred with a career-best five-wicket haul, while opener Tash Farrant remained unbeaten on 68 to guide her team to victory.MacDonald-Gay's devastating spell reduced The Blaze to a precarious 49 for nine, with Sophie Munro, Ella Claridge, Nadine de Klerk, Sarah Glenn, Teresa Graves, Daisy Mullan, Bethany Harmer, and Cassidy McCarthy all falling victim to her accurate bowling. Alice Davidson-Richards then dismissed Harmer, leaving The Blaze on the brink of collapse.However, a remarkable 77-run partnership between Kirstie Gordon and Grace Ballinger rescued The Blaze from the depths of despair. Gordon remained unbeaten on 41, while Ballinger contributed 36 before being dismissed by Bryony Smith. Their efforts gave The Blaze a respectable total of 126, but it proved insufficient against the Stars' formidable batting lineup.Tash Farrant, who had scored a career-best 94 in the Stars' opening victory, continued her impressive form with an unbeaten 68. She struck five fours and two sixes in her 81-ball innings, dominating the Blaze's bowling attack. Bryony Smith also chipped in with 34 runs, helping the Stars reach their target with 159 balls to spare.The Blaze's depleted squad, missing several key players due to international commitments and injuries, struggled to compete with the Stars' strength in depth. Despite Gordon and Ballinger's valiant efforts, they were unable to prevent a comprehensive defeat.

Tash Farrant's remarkable return to cricket propelled South East Stars to a thrilling four-wicket victory over defending champions Southern Vipers in the opening match of the 2024 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Farrant, who had been sidelined for nearly two years with stress fractures of the back, made a career-best 94, sharing a record-breaking 165-run stand with skipper Bryony Smith. The hosts chased down Vipers' competitive total of 273 with just three balls to spare.Vipers got off to a solid start with an 80-run opening partnership between Ella McCaughan and Charli Knott. However, Ryana MacDonald-Gay broke the stand with a stunning catch to dismiss Knott. Georgia Elwiss and Freya Kemp kept the scoreboard ticking, but Bethan Miles and Sophia Dunkley picked up crucial wickets to restrict Vipers to 273.In reply, Farrant and Smith dominated the Stars' innings, putting on a century partnership before Smith was dismissed for 64. Farrant continued to impress, reaching 94 before being trapped lbw by Knott.Dunkley's composed unbeaten 48 guided Stars home amid rising tension. The England batter hit the winning runs with a scrambled leg bye in the final over.Knott was the standout performer for Vipers, taking 2 for 35 and keeping the Stars' batters in check. However, Farrant's brilliance and Dunkley's composure proved too much for the reigning champions.